Follow up Shot??

[Njdiverdan]

Ok, so I have had this happen a couple of times whitetail hunting back east and would like to hear everyone's thoughts with elk.

So here is the scenario. You are bow hunting. You have put what you consider a good shot on a nice elk. The animal runs but stops somewhere around 80-100 yards out (for this scenario consider it to be about 20 yards past your effective range). Do you send another arrow?

My concern is that even another good hit, would probably get the animal running again vs the potential of having the animal just bed down and expire within site.

-dan

[ishy]

Nope, even with a marginal shot if he's slowed down/stopped I'm watching possibly moving closer if the conditions allow it. A hit elk will be on high alert and can move along way in the time an arrow takes to go 80 yrds, and it's past your effective range shouldn't even be an option.

[Swede]

Dan: Generally I would put in a second arrow if I have the opportunity. Years ago I got a second shot, which I believe made a big difference. Later in the mid 90s I put 5 aluminum arrows in one elk. It never left the place where it was first hit. The elk did not need all of that, but it did not hurt anything except the ribs. It fell over on the arrows and bent all of them. The last elk I put two arrows in went nowhere, even after the second shot. Still the second shot was good insurance. BTW: 80-100 yards is more that 20 yards beyond my effective shooting range.

[gman82001]

Im of the opinion if they are still up get another one in em, even when rifle hunting i dont need them getting even deeper into the nasty stuff than they already are

[Toby]

If I can range it and have a pin setting for that distance, or close to it, I would shoot.

[WapitiTalk1]

I've got a few stories about a "second shot" hunt. I'll share one after I wolf down my pizza and salad

[JJ Overkill]

IF I didn't have the pin no, but I have a pins out to 90 just for this reason.

[wapitibowman]

Absolutely I would if I could not sneek any closer. You can never be too sure when you are depending on blood loss in order to recover the animal. The more blood vessels cut, the better chance for recovery.

Wapitibowman

[JPD350]

If I can range it and have a pin setting for that distance, or close to it, I would shoot.

+1 I always nock another arrow no matter what, just in case the opportunity presents itself!

[Njdiverdan]

Surprised that the majority say shoot again. To me a hit animal bleeding out in sight is better than bleeding out faster but on the run again.

[easeup]

No doubt about it. ALWAYS NOCK ANOTHER ARROW after the shot. That is part of being prepared.
Now, each shot will present its own peculiarities, but it is simple, if there is a shot opportunity, I am going to shoot anytime an elk is still on his feet.
Now if you have no confidence in your ability to hit your target, put together a plan to get closer.

The rule you have heard about backing out on a wounded animal is used when you cannot see him but you think he is near.
That is not the case here as you can still see your game. If you can still see him you need to be trying to kill him.

Thinking that another arrow will send him packing gets the same result as letting him stand there until he gets his senses and then goes on down the trail.

Does a rifle hunter say to himself I better wait on a follow up shot? As he might run off where I cannot find him? No, he keeps lead in the air until his game topples.

[otcWill]

Totally situational. I've had this opportunity more than once and I've always opted to pass the second shot. I made the decision based on: How well was the animal hit? What does his condition look like? Is he calm? What are the chances that the second arrow will find its EXACT mark?

When this has happend to me, the animal was hurt BAD, not spooked at all, and not going anywhere. I've had the second shot opp three times and all three died in sight without another arrow. If I knew my hit was marginal but letal (gut shot) I would likely send another unless the elk appeared woozy and unlikely to go anywhere.

[ElkNut1]

In situations as is asked there's very little time to evaluate ones decision for a 2nd arrow, it must be made instantly. I've shot the same elk 3 times & would sink a 2nd shot into them in a heartbeat regardless where I felt he was hit with the 1st given the chance. Arrows can do funny things once inside the hide, I do not take chances, another is on the way when possible! More wound channels equals more tracking blood!

ElkNut1

[WapitiTalk1]

Here's a story of when the "put a second arrow in him if you get the chance" philosophy didn't work out so well in a particular situation. A bit long winded but bear with me. I took a new elk hunter out around 1999ish, early season, WA state. The night before, we had watched a very, very nice Roosey (well, Cascade Roosey ) come out into a large meadow near the Indian Heaven Wilderness area. He was a pig!! There were at least three other smaller bulls on the meadow, or, just into the timber and everyone was singing in the choir. This was right at dark and as we were perched on a hillside about ½ mile away and above from the meadow, we made a plan to come back the next morning. Back at the same spot before daylight, the singing was still occurring inside the timber (all but a few straggler cows were off the meadow), and I made a plan to do a wide skirting of the large meadow, get close to the singers, work the thermals, and see if I could pull one in for my buddy. 45 minutes later, we were close to where I figured a setup may work. The first place we stopped, we heard the big bull spout off a few more finger ridges south… too far away.. Moved another 150 yards, set up, and I lit up the morning with a loud challenge bugle and some trophy brush bashing. Within two minutes, the crashing of an obvious bull slowed/became more distant, and I moved towards where I had set my buddy up to see how it played out. I only saw glimpses of the small bull that came running in to my calling but my buddy was in perfect position to get two arrows launched! The setup worked perfectly. I found my friend hunkered down in hole made by the root wad of a blow down fir. When I asked him how it played out, he said “the bull, a 4X4 came flying in and stopped right there and looked for the source of the bugling/raking! I drew back, figured he was 25 yards and shot. I heard the arrow hit and the bull spun around to the left, headed down the game trail and stopped and looked back in my direction over his shoulder. I remembered what you said at camp, that if I could get another arrow in a bull, do so…….. so I shot again”. I asked him where that second arrow was shot (remembering he told me the bull as facing straight away). My buddy replied “well, in the hind end”. Uggh.. that was not my idea for a second shot placement (I should have been a bit more specific I guess) but oh well, hopefully the first arrow at the broadside elk found it's mark. After some research, I concluded that his first arrow hit a tall, sideways branch of a huckleberry bush and had buried in the ground, pretty much right under where the bull was standing. The second arrow found it’s mark but due to minimal penetration in the bull’s muscular hind quarter, fell out after only 70 yards or so, causing minimal damage.
I do believe in putting a second arrow in an elk if the opportunity arises. But, it needs to be aimed at the same type of “vitals” area any other shot would be.
I took the same guy out in the late season in WA and he arrowed a nice fat cow who dropped within 30 yards of where he shot it. No second arrow was needed

[Olydog09]

Okay how many Wa guys just took to your favorite map program and started scouting Indian Haven Wilderness. 1 hand up here.

[WapitiTalk1]

Okay how many Wa guys just took to your favorite map program and started scouting Indian Heaven Wilderness. 1 hand up here.

Nooooooooooooooo.. delete, delete, recall, recall... There's a few elk around them parts, but, there's 5 hunters for every elk. You're a sneaky dog Scott

[Indian Summer]

Man that's a tough call. Only because of the distance though. If I had even practiced a half dozen shots at that range I'd be flinging another shot. But that sure is far... for me.

My general rule of thumb is if it isn't down I'm shooting again as long as I know for sure I've already put an arrow or bullet in the animal. How serious am I about that? If I've hit the animal I don't care what angle the follow up shot is. Quartering to me... facing directly away. Doesn't matter. You guys have heard my thoughts before on lost game. Nothing is worse. No question 2 wound channels is better than one. If the first shot was fatal the animal isn't going very far anyway. If it wasn't that great an opportunity for a second shot is a blessing!

One more thing on the subject: If the animal beds in sight I'll wait. The fact that it is bedded means I won't lose sight and there's no hurry. If the first hit was truly a mortal wound it shouldn't be long before the animal expires. But if I watch that critter for over 15 minutes and it is still alert and head up then I have all the time in the world to make a really good shot and I'm going for it.

I've seen animals bed that were thought to be hit good and after backing off returned to find them gone and hard to find. You never know. Given the chance I say seal the deal.